Artificial limb



(No Model.)

J. NEYQUIST. ARTIFIGIAL LIMB.

Patented Deo. 29, 1896.

mus PETERS 60., m

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN NEYQUIST, OF COBURN, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARTIFICIAL LIIVIB.)

l SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 574,212, dated December '29, 1896. Application filed October 30, 1896. Serial No. 610,577. (No modell) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN N EYQUIST, of Coburn, in the county of Center and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and use` ful Improvementin Artificial Limbs, ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to articial limbs for arnputations below the knee.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of the entire limb and its shoulder-strap attachment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the upper or thigh socket. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of such portion. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the ankle-joint. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the foot and ankle. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views of the kneejoint.

Aindicates the upper or thigh socket, B the lower or stump socket, and C the foot. These parts A B C are connected by jointed legirons D D', that allow due flexibility at the knee and ankle. The thigh-socket is composed of dierent pieces of leather, which are divided vertically on the front sides and their edges adapted to overlap one another. The outer piece l is riveted to the leg-irons D and provided with a lace 2, so that the socket A may be contracted or enlarged atwill to accomrnodatev limbs of different sizes or the same limb in different conditions. The said outer piece l is also divided longitudinally at another point and the edges 3 4 lapped and connected, as shown in Fig. 3. That is to say, one edge or flap 3, Fig. 3, enters a slit or socket in the other opposite edge 4, and the respective edges are provided with a clasp attachment which permits them to be quickly and easily connected and disconnected, as required, for putting on and removing the leg. The clasp consists of a sheet-metal strip 5, riveted to one flap and provided with slots, and another strip 6, having catches which are adapted to pass through said slots and fasten the strips together, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus by the lacingand clasp I provide for convenient diametrical adjustment of the socket A,

and for instant connection and detachment of the same, whatever be the adjustment, by means of the lace.

The lower socket B has overlapping edges and a lacing 7, like the thigh-socket A` and it is open at the bottom to allow access of air to the end of the stump While the leg is being VVOI'H.

The leg-irons D' are connected with the foot C by a peculiarjoint composed of a T-shaped screw-bolt 8, having a hollow cylindrical head through which passes the screw-bolt 9, that serves as a journal-pin and connects the ends of the leg-irons. The shank of bolt 8 passes down through the heel l0 of the wooden foot C, Fig. 4,'andis secured by a nut ll. The cylindrical head of the bolt 8 abuts the leg-irons DI, and the nut l2 of bolt 9 serves to tighten thejoint, so as to take up wear. On each side of the joint, Fig. A5, is arrangedarubber block 13, whose ends are fitted in opposite sockets formed in the heel l0 and ankle part 14, as shown. The said ankle part 14 iscomposed of a wooden block or blocks iitted tightly in asheet-metal cylinder or sleeve l5, through which the leg-irons D pass and to which they are riveted. This construction and combination of parts provides a cylindrical ankle portion 15, which combines due lightness and strength and affords arm socket-bearing for the elastic blocks 13.

The leg-iron sections D D' are jointed together intermediatelyof the thigh and stump sockets, as shown. Thus they are left free or disconnected save at the ankle and are necessarily elastic to allow expansion or contraction of the leg-sockets A B, so that they and the irons may accommodate themselves to legs differing in-size, and thus enable the artificial leg to be worn with ease and comfort.

The knuckle knee-joints of the leg-irons (see Figs. b and 7) are constructed as follows: The Lipper leg-iron sections D are bifurcated and thus provided with sockets to receive the ends of the lower sections D', the two being pivoted together by a screw journal-pin 18, whose flat head is countersunk, as shown. This screw enables the lateral wear of the joint to be taken up.

The upper portion of the socket or space 2 sir-4,212 Y above the heads of the leg-iron sections D' is filled with :t copper piece or bushing l), with the curved lower edge of which the circular heads of irons D workin frictionul conmet, so that the wcur is mainly conned to said bushings lil, which, when unduly worn, muy be readily removed and new ones quickly substituted at trifiing expense.

The foot has a toe-piece 20, that is flexibly connected with the body or heel portion l0 by means of aleather sole :2l and the leather top piece 22. Elastic blocks 23 are inserted in sockets in the respective parts l0 20, as shown in Fig. 5.

The shoulder-loop 2l is connected with the stump-socket B by means of a bifureated st rap 25 und intermediate strep 2b', which is mede udjustuble in length by means of buckles. The loop 2l is prevented from slipping olf the shoulder of the wearer by means of :t lateral loop 27, that passes around the chest. Thus lied, of the ankle portion formed of :i metal I cylinder riveted to the leg-irons, t wooden filling secured in said cylinder, and elastic blocks socketed in such filling and the foot, on front and rear sides of the joint, :is shown und described.

JOHN NEYQUIS'I. fitnessesz REUBEN BOYER, JACOB B. KERN. 

